So we've been building up to this for a year.

First, we learned to love our stash. Then our WIPS. Together, we put the joy back into our holiday gift knitting, then devoted a month to knitter's self-care.

Along the way, we had some help from Clara Parkes, Andrea Mowry and Carson Demers.

And now we've all come far enough together to tackle the big Kahuna: SWEATERS.

Our Love Sweaters challenge kicks off this Tuesday, January 15th.

Whether you want to make a sweater but the mere thought terrifies you, or...

you've made a bunch of ill-fitting sweaters (and half-sweaters) that are sitting in the back of your closet and in guilty knitting bags shoved under the bed, or...

you're a garment knitter to your core, looking for other sweater freaks who really get you (raises hand)...

This is your moment.

Challenge membership is open for just a few days, and then we start, together.

When you join, you get access to our last 4 Challenge workbooks, with more than a dozen patterns, plus a discount on LoopsLove.com and a V.I.P. concierge email address.

It's all just $19/month. Click here to join.

We hope you'll jump in for this one!

P.S. MDK's "Bang Out A Sweater" starts February 1, and Ann, Kay and I would love for you to participate in both! Joining the Love Sweaters Challenge will give you added support before, during and after the February Bang Out A Sweater window.

When we opened Loops 14 years ago, "novelty yarns" were all the rage. After that died down, some people hoped they'd never return.

Well guess what?

They're baaaaaaaack.

And like most trends that come back around (not counting mom jeans), it's WAY better this time.

The very same day my daughter came home begging for an eyelash sweater (!!!) from Urban Outfitters, I got an email from Beata at Hedgehog Fibres.

She'd designed an amazing poncho with my very favorite (and often unsung) Hedgehog yarn, Cashmere Merino.

And there it was at the top - a pop of texture!

So we worked with the Hedgehog peeps to put together a palette of four color combos, combining the floaty, supersoft Cashmere Merino with a single skein of Feather, the next textural yarn.

The free, easy rectangular poncho pattern that Beata designed is effortless to wear and to knit. No, really - even a complete newbie can do it!

It's light and surprisingly warm due to the high Cashmere content in HHF Cashmere Merino. With a generous amount of ease, this garment will fit a variety of body shapes.

Shop our kits here.

And if you can get to Loops for a class, Janet is offering a free class for anyone purchasing a kit. It's Thursday, January 24th at 6pm. Call 877-566-7765 or email store@loopslove.com to save your spot.

86,000 projects on Ravelry can't be wrong.

Seems like the rest of the world has realized what we've known for quite awhile: Knitting with Malabrigo Rios is a pure joy.

The bounciness, the saturation, the way the fiber takes the color and epitomizes the Malabrigo vibe.

We just got a nice fresh batch, and we've got some pattern ideas for you.

• Judith100 on Ravelry made "Snow Day" by Knitting Expat Designs using 1 skein each of Rios in 3 colors. Love the combo she chose!

• "Walk in the Woods" by Lisa Hannes is an easy, fun-to-knit mosaic pattern that results in a cozy, lofty triangular shawl. It takes two skeins each of two colors.

• "Slip-Zag," also by Lisa Hannes, is a comfy double loop that alternates garter and stockinette sections with slipped stitches to create a compliment-catching fabric. It takes 1 skein each of two colors. 

Shop Rios here.  

All projects can be found on Ravelry.

We're past the point of New Year's Resolutions, so let's call this Loops Hack a promise that you'll make yourself.

Before starting any project, Loops Trooper Tracy goes through the pattern and marks it up with highlighter and/or pencil.

Note the instructions specific to the size you're making and highlight things that it might be easy to miss, such as M1's, decreases or "at the same time" instructions.

This simple step will save you lots of potential frogging down the road!

This one's a "more knitting, less cooking" recipe AND a Loops Hack from Loops Trooper Deborah, whose husband manages our local Trader Joe's (and of course, you can find these ingredients at any local grocery, as well).

"Trader Joe's has a pick up and go section!" Deborah says. "My husband does most of the cooking, so this is the only thing that I actually make for us." 

"Just grab any of the ravioli packages in the cooler and  sautée some garlic, basil and tomatoes in olive oil. Let it reduce for a bit, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Boil up the ravioli, toss them in your sauce, and sprinkle on some fresh basil and Parmesan cheese! Voila!"

Make this tonight and it'll buy you at least 20 extra rows of knitting time ;-)

XOXO,

Shelley and the Loops Troops